When Will I Get Rest?!? / Mike Harris is Scum

Wow - will the madness never end? Being the proverbial dirt under the totem pole has kept me bearing the load these last few weeks of 2005. With many teachers away, I find myself fortunate to sub lots of classes. It's a ton of work, but at the same time, I understand these are the dues one pays go get their foot in the door. Good fun, just takes so much energy out of me - when combined with the ludicrosity of the holidays, and now, New Years.

Didn't have a chance to practice for 2 days (from teaching soooo much), so the chance to practice today was sorely looked forward too. I love being hungry for practice, and I had a good one :)

Other than that, found myself working on posters for Downward Dog. My eyes were getting blurry from staring at a computer screen all day, and I was starting to have flashbacks of my horrendous past engineering life. Shudder. Give me people to help - any day.

The image above is what I used for my studio poster. It was originally claimed to be from an ad in a 1954 Popular Mechanics, stating how this projected "home computer" would be beyond the reach of the typical family in 2004. After some digging around, I was bemused to discover that the pic is a hoax! The main wall unit is actually from a submarine, and the printer / tv / stylish old guy were all cunningingly inserted. Regardless - the image makes me smile.

***

Ah yes - there's an uproar in Toronto about the tragic shooting of the teenaged girl shopping on boxing day - in the middle of downtown for pete's sake! Saw a fantastic quote from Sheila Ward, the chair of the Toronto Disctrict school board, and it places much of the blame of this tragedy on the rightful shoulders - the politicians who craft the social polices that shape our society:

""According to Ward, tougher sentences are not alone the answer to the growing problem of violence in Canada's biggest city.

She said Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty should cancel welfare reform legislation passed by the former Conservative government of Mike Harris.

"We have lost a whole generation of young people because of the mindless slashing and cutting of social programs, which was more concerned about a piddling tax cut than it was about the damage done to the whole social fabric of our province.

"If one of Premier McGuinty's sons got a job tomorrow he would keep every penny he earns. But a child of poverty who gets a job to help his or her family, loses 40 per cent of that paycheck if the Mom resides in social housing. It was a brutally stupid idea when it was introduced and it is shameful that this piece of legislation remains on the books two years after a new government has taken office." ""

***

Reread that last paragraph if you will... I was shocked that they do this in Ontario! This is the sort of policy you would expect to see in Alberta. I cannot believe the audacity of garnishing 40% of someone's wage, just because they live in social housing. Chances are, if you're in social housing, you're probably making minimum wage: $7.45... so, after the government steps in, you're taking home a whopping $4.47.

$4.47 to flip burgers?!?! No wonder the kids are hanging out in the streets and getting into trouble.

Mike Harris is a scumbag and moron.

Soaked!

Taught my first class ever at "The Yoga Studio" today. I'm scheduled to start with them in January, but in the meantime, I'm filling in some classes for the mighty David Robson.

I've tried driving around downtown TO before, and it's maddening. Light, after light, after light. The streetcars add their own extra element of frustration, as their tracks are set in the center lane. So when the streetcar stops, cars in the right lane have to stop as well for the passengers to cross onto the sidewalk. Long and short of it all - driving 10 kilometers in TO takes 45 minutes in traffic - often more with construction - and don't forget the cut-throat antics of parking.

So - onto the bike! The forecast was true to its predictions, and as I opened the door, I was greeted by gray skies and rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Riding in the rain is worse than riding in the snow. Snow by nature is dry, rain gets you soaked.

I'd peeked at the map last night, and it looked like 10 km to the studio. I live on Bathurst and Queen, and I had to get to Yonge and Eglington. A lot of map lay in between those 2 points. Time for some pedal-pushin'.

What a slog! Toronto, as I'm beginning to find, is a hilly place. Yoga makes you strong, but my cardio could be better. I was sucking wind up a steady barrage of hills, and now that I'm older, have no qualms of dropping down to the tiny gears. One day, I'm sure (probably when the snow flies in a few weeks), I'll be utterly shameless and push my bike up some of the hills. By the time I got to the studio, it had taken 35 minutes. Yikes. I had better start getting fitter, or consign myself to leaving earlier.

I was a bit nervous teaching this class. David R is a yoga star here in TO. A super nice guy with the most incredible practice ever, he also has a very strong following of students. So, when all they get is little 'ol me, I get apprehensive. But despite all that, people turned out to be really receptive. After a few minutes, the waver in my voice disappeared, and I had my momentum. In the end, things went great and the students left happy. Probably the best thing I did was to teach my style of class, taught what I knew, as opposed to trying to be someone else.

Hung around the studio for a little while longer, and talked to Steph the manager, and Scott, another instructor. He's one of the junior guys at the studio and he's been there 4 years! So, I count myself lucky to have broken into the yoga community here. (Many thanks to David R's recommendation). It's eye-opening to see how many folks are making a go as professional teachers here.

With that, I hopped on the bike for another very rainy and wet ride home.

I've got to teach again later on tonight, but in the meantime, it's time to dry off and have a nap:)

cheers,

j

Introducing: CAFE KOI :)

Whew - a long day. Woke up groggy from too little sleep, and by the time I stumbled on my bike, I was still bleary. Riding bikes in the wet - not fun, but it beats driving in Toronto any day. Got up to the Yorkville Club (this posh place that I teach - see link in sidebar) and happily enough, I had a large group. This week between Xmas and New Years has been purgatory in the yoga world. Everyone's either away, too full of tryptophan, or busy shopping.

Taught a strong class, and afterwards, went and did some deskwork for Downward Dog. After that, taught at Tula yoga. I'm hemming and hawwing if I want to teach for Tula anymore. These first few weeks in the new year will decide - I'm paid by the student, and damnit, these classes need more people!

Came home, and now that I've been freed from the clutches of Xmas leftovers, it's time to start cooking again. Made a great curry, which I've been munching with stale bread (okay, I lied, there's still a loaf of bread from the 25th to go thru), and had a Fin de Monde. A 9% beers + dehydration + hot curry = I'm feeling it.

For those of you that drink beer, it's time to get efficient. Quit bulging those bellies with 4 coronas, or worse yet, a box of Alberta Genuine Draft - start drinking the good stuff: anything from Quebec's Unibroue label will do : Fin du Monde, Maudite, etc, etc.

On a final note of utmost importance, I've been corresponding with my dear friend Natasha Peace (the lovely in today's picture). Together with business partner Phil Wong (formerly of the Coup), Ms Peace has opened her own incredible restaurant to augment Calgary's dining cuisine - and it's affordable too! Quit going to the Living Room and putting on airs! While I haven't had a chance to eat there (I'm 3 provinces away), I do know that Natasha is a fantastic person, and pours her heart into everything she does. Plus - she's a yogini so you know you'll be treated with respect! Give her a chance when you get the chance!

The restaurant's called "Cafe Koi", and from the website, this place looks fab. The culinary delights look downright delightful, and in the spirit of community, they feature the work of local up and coming artists. Someone, please drop me a line and tell me how it is.

Check it at: www.cafekoi.com

A slightly tipsy cheerio,

j

St Exupery, and A Busy Day

Despite my beautiful Hilary being away, the days still find me busy. Hung out with Rob, worked on some stuff, wound up teaching at Downward Dog (craziness), and now a friend from back in the day is coming over. It's almost midnight! Oh well - this is the perfect time of the year for visits out of the ordinary.

As food for thought, I'm submitting a quote that I saw just recently. It's nice - you can apply to everything - whether it's your mindset, your yoga practice, or even the things you appreciate in life:

"Have you ever thought...about but whatever man builds,
 that all of man's industrial efforts, all his computations
 and calculations, all the nights spent over working draughts
 and blueprints, invariably culminate in the production of a
 thing whose soul and guiding principle is the ultimate
 principle of simplicity?

 It is as if there were a natural law which ordained that to
 achieve this end, to refine the curve of a piece of furniture
 or a ship's keep, or the fuselage of an airplane, until
 gradually it partakes of the elemental purity of the curve
 of a human breast or shoulder, there must be the
 experimentation of several generations of craftsmen.
 In anything at all, perfection is finally attained not when
 there is no longer anything to add, but when there is no
 longer anything to take away, when a body has been
 stripped down to its nakedness."
          -Antoine de Saint Exupery, WIND, SAND, STARS


Yes, that's right, the same Antoine de Saint Exupery
who wrote the Little Prince :) 

Brokeback Mountain: Gay Cowboys Rule!!!

After the festivieness of Festivus, Hil and I embarked on the notion of seeing a movie on xmas day.

Rob dropped us off at the Paramount (an epic giga-theatre in downtown TO), where we happily got tickets for Brokeback Mountain. We'd been looking for a chance to see this one, as it was reviewed very highly in the NOW magazine. (As a sidebar, there was a degree of controversy over the fact that despite being so highly lauded, a film about gay-cowboy-love only opened in one theatre in the entire GTA. Regardless - that was all moot, as it's playing in every theatre now).

We've been on a Jake Gyllenhal (sp!?!?) kick as of late, and after seeing Jarhead a few weeks ago, this was an entirely different film.

Based on a short story by Annie Proulx (wrote the shipping news) - Brokeback Mountain starts in the sixties and plays out over over the next 2 decades. Ennis (Heath Ledger) and Jack (Jake G) are young cowboys from broken homes with the busted wallets to match. Hurting for work, they take on a job herding sheep up on, yup, you guessed it - Brokeback Mountain. It's a tough, isolated job, where they have to rely on each other to keep the sheep alive.

With all the cowboy posturing and toughness, amidst the travails of their dubious job - it's fascinating to see Ennis and Jack fall in love - in a tough, manly kinda way. The first part of this film is one of the greatest love stories I've ever seen - it is so human, so flawed and real.

The rest of the film follows the hardships the cowpokes endure as they try to carve out their own lives in a homophobic world. Yet whenever they can, they try to meet up at Brokeback Mountain - the only place where they can be alone and share their love.

The rest of the cast is brilliant too - Anne Hathaway (the immensely doe-eyed brunette from all the G-rated disney "princess films") is excellent as Jack's wife. Her haircuts alone could justify half the price of your ticket. Eniss's tortured young bride (by some girl from Dawson Creek, Michelle William?) carries her role with bite and aplomb.

With this being my third month in Toronto, it was rather heartbreaking to see that the film was shot in Alberta. I miss my mountains. Damnit, the scenery in this film, with it's high ranges, craggy peaks, and mountains that yawn into eternal skies had me missing home terribly.

I could go on to cite how great this particular scene is, or that one, etc, etc but really, that would do this film a disservice. Jake G's performance is astoundingly good, and drives another nail into the thinly crafted coffin of talent that Jude Law rode in on his 5 films last year. But Heath Ledger completely floored me. While I thought he was mainly a prettyboy actor (such as the Grisham film that he was in) - the quality of his work in this movie is courageous and has earned my respect. This guy can act!

So, go see Brokeback Mountain. The best drama I've seen all year. Easily.

j

Festivus (for the Rest of Us!)

Hi everyone,

Happy Holidays!

A fine day... thus far. Hil and I slept in, ate a big breakfast of apple cottage cheese pancakes, and exchanged presents. Looking back on it, it's these subtle gift exchanges that are so much better - there's less put into the worth of the gift, and more on the quality of day to day living instead.

After some morning glories (and nearly losing an eye trying to open that infernal bottle of champagne), we went for a long walk through downtown TO. While the streets were certainly less busy, there were still going-ons. The Hot Dog vendors on the corner were open for business, transit was running, and Chinatown was packed. Restaurants of people going for dim sum, folks buying groceries, etc, etc.

Eventually we found what we were looking for in Kensington Market - a coffee shop for Hil! After being educated by the owner of the shop that our 5 dollar bills were counterfeit, we took a table, got respective copies of the NOW magazine (kinda like FFWD for Calgary only 100x bigger) and just chilled out. As I was falling asleep in the arm chair, Hil rustled me awake.

Home through the rain.

We're slowly making dinner, phoning friends, enjoying our time (and each other), and waiting for company for our "orphan's dinner".

Hope everything is well with all of you!

jeff and hilary

Eve of Christmas

Ahhhh!!! Just one more day 'til Xmas!

(thank god!)

Last night and today have been fun and busy days. I picked up Hil's younger sister, Joanna at the Via Rail station. What a mess! 3 rows deep of cabs fighting for fares, and families picking up loved ones amidst the scourge of bumper-to-bumper. I guess everyone was taking the 8:37 train in from the outskirts of the GTA. I resorted to the skilled tactic of jumping out of the truck every few moments, and screaming "JOANNA!?!?".

Evenutally I found my red-haired friend, and all was good. The wall of taxis parted just as a big tour bus lumbered toward us, and we were able to make a quick getaway home.

We had one of those big slow dinners of asian frittata, samosas and pita that night. My new found love for cooking is beginning to match my always constant love for food. Because we live in a hole in the wall on the third floor of a narrow townhouse, our kitchen table is our coffee table, and our kitchen chairs are our couch, which is actually a futon. Regardless, it all works in a cute homey way, and when we have guests over, it's like eating in a boat, with a tiny galley and all. Conversation just seems to flow nicely when things are a little more close, and the table is low to the floor.

***

This morning, I worked the desk at Downward Dog and dealt with the last of the last-minute shoppers. Most folks are pretty calm, surprisingly calm, so by the time the shift ended in the early afternoon, I was feeling nice and Christmasey. Had ample to time to fire xmas emails to all my dearest friends, and it's surprising how freely the words can flow when you're in the mood.

Adding to that the fact of my Xmas Cheers was that I was able to cash out correctly on my first try! (A far cry from my near tears of rage with the debit machine and cash register a few nights ago)

My dear friend and studio manager Leslie also gave Hil and I some brilliant tiny gifts, and with that we parted out holiday ways. Ms Kriekle rules.

I picked up Hil and Joanna and we drove out to the Sunnybrook hospital so they could visit their grandfather again. Jo hadn't seen him in over a year, so despite the looming deadline to catch a plane, we got her out.

And in the end - things went smashingly. They had a great visit with their grandfather, and we made good time on the 401, getting Joanna off to the airport with time to spare. The poor girl has a 7 hour flight to London, then a ten hour stopover on Xmas day, before the last epic leg to Cairo. I take Hil to the airport on Boxing Day, and after that, it will just be me, myself and I.

I was remarking to Hil how I bet all the kids out there are excited. And to all you, my dearest friends, I hope you're excited too! Sleep well tonight, languish around, eat lots, and do know that I'm wishing you all the happiest of holidays! I may be far, but that doesn't mean I don't think of you all the time :)

I'm SQUISHING your HEAD!

Wow - have things ever been busy. Thursday night, we had Hil's friends Sarah and Rob over. They spent the night, and we had good chats. Looking back, that was a full, full day - of teaching, buying groceries, prepping dinner, working at the studio, and trying to figure out how to do cash out at the end of the night (I couldn't possibly imagine the hellish life of being an accountant). I was spent by the time bed was calling my name.

And up again too early - for practice at the studio. It's funny how I can be tired, yet still want to practice. Probably because I practice in such a way it's fun, and also because Ron Reid is the most technical and experienced Ashtanga instructor in Canada. This guy is the best.

Practice was good - as the cobwebs started to roll away from the edges of my fuzzy head. After that, headed home, hung out with Sarah and Rob some more, and then wished them the best.

Stopped back at Downward Dog (It's like I live there), and did some help around the front desk. Also, made a trip down to the bank, to take care of some of their payments. I hate going to the bank - and silly me, at this time, it was absolutely packed. Waited twenty-five minutes in a "business customers" line that barely moved. Maddening.

On an interesting note though, Mark McKinney of "Kids in the Hall" fame stepped into the bank. My second famous person sighting on Queen W (The other being troubador Ron Sexsmith). Mark looked like everyone else at this time of the year - frazzled by the holiday, trying to catch up with the zillion and one things to do. He had Christmas wrapping and a package with him, I think. I heard him talk with the security guard about how he could get a $50 bill. Not 2 twenties and a ten, but specifically a $50 bill.

What's Mark need with a fifty? Who knows - eventually he left. I debated saying something to him, but was afraid he'd pull out his pointer finger and thumb and "squish my head" :)

j

Rantings Against Second Cup

Had an interesting conversation at the corner in front of my yoga studio, Downward Dog. This light, at Queen and Tecumseth takes forever to change - usually you wind up standing in front of the Second Cup, waiting for the cars to stop, being forced to listen to the muzak that they pump out their front speakers.

I was standing next to this quirky-looking guy - it looked like he was a candy raver from back in the day, resplendent in his tiger fur shoulder bag, huge earrings and wild braids.

He turns to me and goes, "Don't you just wish you had a gun to shoot out the fucking crap that comes out of Second Cup's speakers?!?"

I smiled and said something about how I've entertained such violent thoughts, but try to internalize them.

This gets a laugh, and as we wind up crossing the street together, the Old Raver tells me another story of how he went to his Fido phone dealer, and after being charged another hundred bucks for service, he took a hammer and smashed the phone to pieces in front of the shocked salespeople.

I believed him.

We talked a bit more about the evils of cell phones ("I'm SOOO Analog", proclaimed the Raver) and we wished each other Merry Xmas.

There are some quirky people in this city - it's great :)

I Weigh 137 Pounds! + Pic of the Day

I rode my bike up to the Yorkville Club this morning, where I teach a few classes. They have a scale in the mens locker room, so I thought I'd check my weight.

Wow - 137 pounds! Between riding a bike around TO, and practicing yoga more intensely than ever, and eating well, I've shed 8 pounds since summer's end. Yikes - no wonder I get cold easily.

I feel strong though, like a wire. Eating more tempeh helps :)

***

The pic of the day is a blast from the past. Remember the Keatons? I'm the new "Poster Designer" at Downward Dog, so I spend a fair bit of time surfing the web looking for interesting images. Michael J Fox still could play Alex Keaton couldn't he?

This Season is Stupid / The Door in the Floor

Xmas is good, but god, it's out of control. Just a mini-rant on the ludicrosity of having to go out and buy presents. What the heck for? Just to get our money into the pockets of the retailers I suppose. And the worst part is, deep down inside, you really would like to find the perfect gift for your special someone...

So, off I go. Too busy, too rushed, but still, off I go.

Madness.

PS - me and my lovely saw "The Door in the Floor" last night. Probably one of the better rents we've had recently. It's based loosely on John Irving's "Widow for One Year", and Jeff Daniels does a fine job. Kim Basinger still looks great, and as an interesting point, the film focuses only on the first 100 pages of Irving's book.

This is a testament to not only the richness of "Widow for One Year", but also Irving's knack at crafting epic stories. So, in summary, a good solid movie, but for a more enriching entertainment experience, check out the book.

j

Where in the World is AJ?

Where in the World is AJ?
Some friends are simply more challenging than others. We love them to pieces, but, well, sigh - they're just tricky.

My dear friend AJ was supposed to come over for dinner tonight, but she never showed up. She moved to TO a few months before me, and now she's on her way to Vancouver where she'll meet up with her fab boyfriend and start a life out there. Settling down! Growing up!

AJ is a cook, through and through, and proof positive of the power of doing what you love. She rules - she's real, and she's chasing her dream. This year alone, she'll have lived in 3 major cities, Calgary, Toronto and Vancouver - cutting a swath through great restaurants, learning as much as she can.

As anyone aspiring towards a career in the culinary arts will tell you, it's a rough go. Those first few years, you're the proverbial dirt under the totem pole. The kitchen's work is hard, the hours long, the people challenging, and the wages low.

There's this sick paradox where the people who craft the amazing meals could never afford to the same said restuarants.

AJ's so poor that she had to cancel her cell phone a month ago, just to save up money for the flight back to Vancouver. Just last Friday I helped her move her stuff to the Grayhound station - it's the running joke we have in our friendship, how I'm always moving her boxes.

I stopped by tonight at her house, around 10:30pm to see if she was there. But no one was home.

Granted, AJ can be a bit scatter-brained - after all, it was a week ago we made plans for dinner. Maybe she forgot. Or maybe she got busy with some other stuff. Maybe she got impulsive and got her flight bumped up.

Regardless, keep an eye out for AJ everyone!

And AJ, if you're reading this blog in an internet cafe - you'd better write me an email. I'm worried.

j

The Grizzly Man

Hil and I saw a great film at the second-run theatre. (We're dirt poor, so "second" anything is a good thing.)

Just up on College street, is an old moviehouse, the Royal. This is what theatres are meant to be like - one screen. One theatre. None of these ridiculous football-sized abominations which either look like exploding volcanoes or spaceships sprouting off the side of a superhighway. The Royal is old, slightly run down, and above all knows its place in the movie experience. It's a charming, subtle environment for the movie to be shown in, not a competing spectacle of lights and gaudy colors.

The film we saw was a real treat too - Werner Herzog's documentary: "Grizzly Man".

Grizzly Man follows the adventures of the real-life grizzly man - Timothy Treadwell. A university drop-out, who moved to California to make it big, didn't, and instead, spiraled downwards in alcoholism.

But something clicked for Timothy and saved his life: one summer, he went to Alaska and lived with the bears. Not tiny black and brown bears, but full-on grizzlies. The biggest and most powerful animals on our continent. Not only did he survive, he thrived, and within his connection to these massive creatures, he carved out a purpose for himself - to save the grizzly and live with the bears.

The next 13 years of Tim's life, as outlined in the film, show his rise to stardom (he was even on Letterman), as well as conservation efforts, and most incredibly - his ability to spend entire summers up close with kodiaks without becoming bear food. During his last 5 years, he had a video camera to film his so-titled "expeditions". His footage inspires a mix of admiration, awe, and disbelief that someone would actually get so close to wild bears. Probably some of the most hair-raising, move to the edge of your seat, wide-eyed footage you'll ever see.

Some particularly notable scenes have him within 2 feet of bears, poking them on the nose with his finger, or standing up and yelling at them. Or cajoling them. Or phraising them.

Hil, (our biology expert), describes his behavior as anthropomorphisizing, which is where you give animals human traits.

Timothy gives the bears names like Mr Chocolate, Daisy, and Rowdy, and talks about their personalities. For instance, "Me and Mr Chocolate (the massive bear 10 feet behind him, foraging for berries)," says a happy bleach blond Tim to his camera, "have known each other for 10 years. Isn't that right Mr Chocolate? Yes, that's right 10 years. I knew Mr Chocolate when he was just a little cubbie, and now he's all big. We're good friends! Good good friends! I LOVE YOU Mr Chocolate!"

It's hard to tell if Timothy is crazy, or really does have some sort of connection with these bears. I guess that's a testament to his belief in his actions.

You may be wondering why this posting seems to have a slightly "past-tense" or "ominous" tone. Well, Timothy and his girlfriend were eaten by a bear 2 years ago. This too is covered in the film, and it lends the whole thing an air of surrealness.

I don't want this posting to get too big, or worse yet, deny you of all the delightful or riveting moments in this film - so, just rent it. This is real. That's the crazy thing - this IS real.

www.grizzlyman.com

Christmas Shopping / Kozyndan

Just writing early this Saturday morning. I've got a big day ahead of me, so I figure'd I'd post sooner in the day.

Yesterday was a fine day in TO. The weather had taken a turn for the warmer, which made walking the streets easier. Headed out with Hil to some shops to look for gifts. She's shopping for her family and some friends, me - I'm still mulling over what to do. Probably some sort of online gifts or such would be smart, as I'm well past the chance to get things in time via mail.

As with all things Toronto - it's amazing how much choice you have. No matter how obscure your interest or taste it seems, not only does TO have a shop that caters to it, there are probably several.

We went to some nifty shops on College Street and Queen West, which reminded us truly how fortunate we are to live where we do. Sure, our apartment has mice, and there was a heinous odor of dog urine that took 4 weeks to get rid of , and sure, the back window in the bathroom never closed so that eventually it got so cold I head to seal it shut with cauling and plastic...

But, it's location, location, location. Why live in a big city if you're stuck one hour out in the desolate suburbs? That seems like the worst of everything. Sure, for the same amount of rent, you get a bigger place that's insulated, pest free, and bigger than a submarine - but there's no culture. Big-box-retail is NOT culture.

We were inside this one store called Magic Pony that carries the most sublimbe asian dolls - not the syrupy cute Hello Kitty stuff, but the real quirky dolls and figurines that are made purposefully ugly. It's amazing seeing grown men and women paying over a hundred dolls for a plastic figurine!

The highlight is seeing prints available by Kozyndan. This is a couple based in LA, where she does incredible pencil work and he colors them in digitally. Their work is sublime, and often full and bursting with color, detail and life. They're responsible for the great image on today's post. But to see their truly good stuff, go to www.kozyndan.com and check out their "panoramics". Incredible!

Well, gots to go,

cheers,

jeff

Proof Postive that Karma Exists

Conrad Black, that swarmy media mogul with a reputation for censorship of the truth (all in the good name of the almighty corporate dollar) has seen a downfall of epic proportions. First losing his empire, then a slew of lawsuits, and most recently, serious charges from the US govt of racketeering and obstruction.

While the buddhist classes that I attend make definite note of the actions of our past lives dictating what we experience in this current life - one can certainly extrapolate a trend here.

Black was a bastard in his previous incarnations, and from what we've seen so far, he's gonna be suffering in the next few "incarnations" too.

j

Bottom of the Totem Pole

Had a funny thing happen to me in a yoga class the other night. Someone actually walked out.

I havent' had someone walk out of a class of mine in ages - especially right at the beginning. I remember sitting down in front of class and saying, "The gentleman who usually teaches the 7:30 class in the other studio is sick. So, Christina, who usually teaches this class is going to cover that one, and I'm gonna cover this one." One guy in the back, promptly rolled up his mat, gathered his blocks and left for the other studio.

Oh well. I guess people get attached to their teachers.

Just a bit of background info: I'm a short asian guy. Christina's a stunning, tall spanish woman with an accent.

Great Lake Swimmers - crystal clear falsetto!

Just a quick note on the gig me and Hil went to late Wednesday night. Over the span of these past few months, we've been getting to more and more shows, and slowly learning the ins and outs of the various venues.

Last night's gig was at the Rivoli, which reminded me of the mighty (now gone, snif-sniff) Night Gallery from back home. Long narrow room, wood floor, seats on the side walls, and most importantly, incredible sound.

For a paltry $10, we were able to see three acts.

First up was the Mendoza Line, which is a baseball reference to a mediocre player called Mendoza. He had the uncanny ability to play just barely well enough to stay in the pro's. His batting average, .215 (I believe), is known today as the "Mendoza Line" and is the hallmark of underachieving millionaire baseball players. In terms of the band, Mendoza Line was pretty darn mediocre too. Zero energy, and one of those weird duo acts that show up every now and then - this time with a guy on a guitar and the lead singer doing some half-hearted tambourine work in between listless vocals. The guy had the gumption to sing every now and then like Bob Dylan - which just ain't cool. Only Bob Dylan is allowed to sing like Bob Dylan. Anyone else sounds like they need dristan. Respect please!

The second act was Picastro (Probably the greatest band name I've heard all year!), and they are dark and evil. 4 piece band, female vocalist on an acoustic guitar and a haunting voice akin to Chan Marshall of Cat Power. But what really gave them distinction was their cello player. At times dissonant, consistently brooding, and very, very intense in that slow, doom is coming way. I think they'll be huge soon (probably get picked up on a soundtrack for a Lynch film). Hilary thinks I'm crazy. Regardless, keep an eye out for Picastro.

And finally, The Great Lake Swimmers. Think Troubador Toronto boy done good, singingly achingly beautiful melodies with a pristine falsetto. Don't laugh - that falsetto is good, and the boy can SING.

Hmmmm - do consider either of the past 2 Great Lake Swimmer CD's for a pleasant, thoughtful xmas gift for that person out there who needs that sweet slow CD to sit down with - that person in your life who takes the time to listen to the lyrics while they're holding their head in their hands, gazing at the wall.

(But only if they already own some Iron and Wine! Sam Beam still rules the acoustic universe!)

www.greatlakeswimmers.com

Tookie Williams Executed

Tookie Williams was executed this Tuesday.

Tookie was one of the founders of the infamous Crips gang in LA, and accused of murdering 4 people. While he certainly couldn't be considered a nice guy at the time, he was heavily drugged by the police throughout his trial. To add fuel to the controversial fire, the prosecutor craftily removed 3 potential african-americans from the jury.

I'm not a fan of capital punishment. It's hypocritical to denounce murder, yet commit another - particularly in this case where the person seems to have reformed.

Tookie, during his tenure in prison wrote books warning youths of the danger of gangs, came up with a functional street protocol to end gang violence, and was nominated for the Nobel Peace prize multiple times. Man, if there was EVER someone who spent their time in the can well, Tookie would be it. Despite a whole wack of big names rallying around the cause, such as Joan Baez, Jesse Jackson, and Jamie Foxx (who played Tookie in a biographical film, "Redemption" last year), it was all for naught.

For more insightful reporting on the situation, (and current photo of Tookie) check out npr (national public radio).

I wonder how Old Arnie (Governor Schwarzengger) is sleeping tonight...

j

Everyone should know who Russ Bannock is.

A strange day of sorts.

Hil and I visited her grandfather at the Sunnybrook Veterans home. He has very advanced alzheimers and I was impressed by how kind and brave Hil was with him. She brought some magazines, a card, and some shortbread cookies that she made. (my girl rules)

While we were there, another man stopped in to visit. Despite his condition, Hil's grandfather's immediately recognized him, and they shared the type of handshake that only good friends could have.

The gentleman's name is Russ Bannock - 86 years old, healthy, lucid, and sharply dressed. As it turns out, Russ and Hil's grandfather flew Mosquito fighter planes together in the war. Russ was the pilot, and he was saying hello to his old navigator.

Tonight, searching on the web, I found out who Russ Bannock really is.

Check out: http://www.constable.ca/bannock.htm

If you have some time, (and I think we all do), take a brief look at Canada's second highest scoring ace from WWII.

j

Pic of the day:

We hates him too.

(That lady must be eating one dry cookie.)

Time Flies

Got an email from a dear old travelling friend tonight.

Which got me digging into my old photos. Meloncholy and nostalgia. Sun and sand.

It's hard to believe that a year ago I was sitting on an island looking at a volcano. (Ometepe, Nicaragua)

Where does the time go?

Falling Through the Tracks

Sunday is a busy day for me. I wake up early, assist at Downward Dog 'til 11am, and then I have to teach at another studio by noon.

Beause of the time crunch and my chronic habit of dallying just a bit too long, I've been riding Hil's shiny new bike to get from place to place. Her bike's a lean, mean commuting machine with skinny tires that spin nice and fast.

The trouble with skinny tires though is that they don't have much grip. Especially on metal. As you can see from the above photo, bike commuting in TO is exciting . Lots of cars, mean cabbies, and as an added bonus, the treacherous tracks for the streetcars.

Tracks that are just wide enough to swallow a skinny tire.

I was bombing down Bathurst trying to beat the light onto Queen St. In retrospect, that wasn't very smart. Bathurst and Queen is chock-a-block laced with street car tracks and to my horror, I saw my front wheel migrate into one of said tracks.

It was all over by then.

Sliding on my side into the intersection. The collective gasp of pedestrians on the corner, "Are you okay?!?" I pick myself up, ego wounded and covered in a brown slime of dirty snow and pollution.

A guy comes up and goes, "Dude. Rain and snow man. Rain and snow." (I'm assuming he's referring to the tracks as opposed to telling me about the last few days weather.

I slowly pedal the last few blocks to work. Dirty.

j

Jarhead: An Engaging Look at Bored Soldiers

Saw Jarhead tonight. And while it seems like Jake Gwylenhall is flooding the theatres right now (look for his risque gay-cowboy flick Bareback Mountain coming over the next few weeks), it's certainly not a bad thing.

Jarhead, is based on a book by Anthony Swoffer who actually served in the Iraq war, in the laughable Desert Shield / Storm operation. What was a facade by the first Bush administration to secure oil under the guise of "Freedom for All" (sound familiar anyone?), the film takes a close look at the poor dumb bastards who are stuck on the front lines.

Like American Beauty, this film is quite subversive and does a fine job at exposing an oft-overlooked aspect of war: waiting around doing nothing.

While there is little actual combat, the film instead draws tension heavily through the theme of a frustrated soldier trained to kill - with nothing to kill.

So, where does all that pent up frustration go? Well, we get to see lots of scenes of masochism, cruelty and plain old perverted/demented behavior. While I've never been in the military, what is in Jarhead seems realistic if only for the fact that it's so bent, only real life could be that way.

Aside from some incredible imagery, the performances by Jake G, his sniper cohort Peter Saarsgard, and Jamie Foxx are all excellent. If Peter Saarsgard doesnt get an Oscar nomination for best supporting actor, then it's because the 'academy' got squeamish over the political undertones - and that would be a shame.

8 stars outta 10.

Good for the theatres, a definite renter if you get the chance.

Cheerio,

j

The Pearly Gates have Eloquent Graffitti...

And other such lines of evocative imagery filled our ears.

It was the incredible Iron and Wine with Calexico concert last night.

Those familiar with the incredible Sam Beam (front man of Iron and Wine) would have been enthralled by his talent. Yes folks, he sounds better than his CD's, if such a thing is possible. He did a rendition of his epic song of remembrance, "The Trapeze Swinger", and I would be hard-pressed to think of hearing anything more beautiful this year.

Calexico was in fine form as well, and their horns blared the proud flavor of mariachi throughout, warming the room.

While on paper putting Iron and Wine on stage together with alt-group Calexio seems a bit of a stretch, in reality, there was a magic there. Up to 14 people on stage in swells of the clearest and most heartwarming sound. You could almost envision tumbleweeds drifting across the stage.

Want to hear more? Know someone abusing their stereo with Kelly Clarkson?

Then do your soul (and mind) a favor, and check out:

www.ironandwine.com

Lyrics that will make you weep, and melodies that will seep into your bones.

His 2 albums, "The Creek Drank the Cradle", and 2004's masterful "Endless Numbered Days" are essential. The "subpop" website will have more as well.

www.subpop.com

Cheers,

jeff

First Mate Hilary

Those with an observant eye will be able to discern from the way Hil is sitting, that she is in the stern (ie back?) of the boat... So, essentially she's steering the ship. Er canoe.

Note also the casual and deft one-hand-on-the-paddle technique.

Away we go...

The proverbial bottle of champagne swings...

And smashes against the hull of the mahblog!

Confetti fills the air and the band begins to play. There's a modicum of fanfare, while overhead, newly released doves spin circles in the sun.

It's official - I'm the captain of my own blog now.

As I set sail with my new vessel of communication, I hope that this experience will be a good one. I haven't had much chance to fill everyone in on my musings, and at the same time, my bent for creatively writing has been woefully amiss.

So fingers crossed here we go.

I hope you'll check in every now and then. I promise the utmost hospitality.

Cheers,

El Capitan,

Jeff

PS - first mate Hilary says hi!